SNHR: Most Prominent Prisoners in Syrian Regime’s Prison Until This Moment
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Truce Between Ukrainian Government and Opposition Deteriorates As 100 Killed in Latest Fighting in Kiev
by Tony Iozzo
Impunity Watch Reporter, Europe
KIEV, Ukraine – Gunfire erupted between government security forces and opposition protesters at Independence Square in Kiev on Thursday.
The latest violent scuffle occurred just two days after a breakout of violence that left 28 people dead, and mere hours after President Viktor Yanukovych announced a truce between government security forces and opposition leaders on late Wednesday evening.
As a result of the latest violence, approximately 100 people were killed and 500 were injured in the clashes, according to the opposition forces’ medical team. The Ukrainian government has not released its own casualty numbers, but Interior Minister Vitali Zakharchenko stated that 25 police officers were injured and an unknown amount were killed. There were also allegedly hostages taken during the violence.
The Ukraine’s hostile situation began in November, when President Yanukovych nixed a trade deal with the European Union, and decided to deal with Russia. A conflict between an alliance with Russia and cooperation with the European Union has permeated the Ukrainian government for years.
It is not specifically known exactly what sparked Thursday’s violence, as conflicting reports indicate protestors throwing Molotov cocktails, and security forces pursuing opposition forces. Interior Minister Zakharchenko stated the violence was “provoked exclusively by the opposition leaders.” President Yanukovych’s office also indicated that the protesters of broke the truce. “The opposition used the negotiation period to buy time, to mobilize and get weapons to protesters,” a statement from the President’s office said.
An individual working for the opposition as a medical respondent accused government forces of shooting to kill, saying she had treated 13 people she believed had been targeted by “professional snipers.” “They were shot directly to their hearts, their brain and to their neck. They didn’t give any chance to doctors, for us, to save lives,” she stated.
European Union officials were scheduled to meet to discuss possible sanctions against the Ukrainian government on Thursday, which could include freezing assets and restricting the visas of officials deemed responsible for violence in that country, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius stated.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel urged President Yanukovych to accept EU aid in negotiations with the opposition. Russia’s foreign ministry, however, appeared to criticize Western diplomatic efforts. “The ongoing attempts to obtrusively intervene from outside, threat with sanctions or trying to influence the situation in any other ways are inappropriate and can’t lead to anything good but can only aggravate the confrontation,” Russian spokesman Aleksandr Lukashevich stated.
Ukrainian athletes dawned black mourning bands and held a moment of silence Thursday at the Sochi Olympics.
For more information, please see:
CNN – Truce Crumbles Amid Gunfire in Ukraine, Protesters Claim 100 Dead – 20 February 2014
Reuters – Ukraine Truce Shattered, Death Toll Tops 50 – 20 February 2014
The Telegraph – Ukraine Protests Live: Death Toll Mounts Amid “Sniper Attacks” As Fresh Fighting Breaks Truce – 20 February 2014
New York Times – Ukraine Leader Strains For Grip As Chaos Spreads – 19 February 2014
*For live video coverage of the Events in Kiev, click here.
Moqtada al-Sadr Announces his Retirement to Public Life
By Kathryn Maureen Ryan
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East
BAGHDAD, Iraq – Prominent Iraqi Cleric Moqtada al-Sadr announced Sunday that he would be retiring from political life in Iraq in a letter to his website he announced that he would close all his political office, that he would not hold any political office in the country nor would a block represent him in the Iraqi Parliament.
Al-Sadr inspired the Sadrist movement in Iraq, which gained popularity amongst Shiite groups across the country, especially amongst the Shiite urban poor. The Sadrist movement is a political movement follows the structure of the Lebanese Hezbollah movement by building on the Shiite faith, promoting military strength and populist programs in order to add to the movement political strength.
While Moktada al-Sadr holds no formal official position in the Iraqi government he continues he has become one of the most high profile figures in the country holding significant influence over politics in the country. Al-Sadr came to prominence in Iraq for his role in founding the Mahdi Army, a Shiite militia group that fought against both Iraqi Sunni groups and U.S. and coalition forces following the 2003 invasion of Iraq.
The Mehdi Army consistently clashed with U.S. and British forces throughout the occupation’ publicly demanding an end to the occupation. In 2008 the Mehdi Army clashed with the Iraqi army, commanded by Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, resulting in the arrest of many of his followers. Ultimately the Mehdi army agreed to give up arms and disband.
Ultimately al-Sadr reached a truce with Prime Minister al-Maliki. During the 2010 national elections in Iraq al-Sadr demonstrated his influence over Iraqi politics by backing Prime Minister al-Maliki of the Islamic Dawa Party. However, al-Maliki and al-Sadr relationship has become strained since the 2010 elections with the two men becoming strong political rivals, it is unclear how al-Sadr’s withdrawal from public life will affect the Prime Ministers influence in the country.
Saad Saloom, a professor of political science at Al Mustansiriya University, based in Bagdad, argued that al-Sadr’s followers may now through their support behind al-Maliki’s Islamic Dawa Party. This could give al-Maliki a much stronger hold over Iraq’s Shiite majority populations, which may fear could further weaken the influence of the country’s Sunni minority. Saloom also argued of al-Sadr’s withdrawal from political life that it is “the first modern, unique step from a religious leader to put religion away from politics.”
Prime Minister al-Maliki will face a re-election challenge in April. While the ultimate impact of al-Sadr’s departure from public life will be for Iraq it is clear that the sudden retirement of al-Sadr will have an immediate effect on the Sadrist movement and the candidates it once backed.
For more information please see:
The New York Times – Iraqi Cleric, Exiting Politics, Urges Others to Keep Serving – 18 February 2014
Al Jazeera – Iraqi Cleric Sadr Retires From Politics – 16 February 2014
BBC News – Radical Iraqi Cleric Moqtada Sadr ‘To Retire From Politics’ – 16 February 2014
The New York Times – Iraqi Cleric Says Again He’ll Quit Politics – 16 February 2014
Boko Haram Crisis in Nigeria
By: Danielle L. Gwozdz
Impunity Watch News Reporter, Africa
ABUJA, Nigeria – There are reports of a “massive” attack in northern Nigeria in the town of Bama. This occurred after the presidential spokesman said the army was “winning the war” against Islamist militants.
The attack on Bama lasted four hours on Wednesday morning.
Several thousands have lost their lives since the Boko Haram uprising which began in 2009.
Residents have contacted BBC to report the attack, but details of the attack are still unclear.
Last year, a state of emergency was called in Borno and in two neighboring states. Thousands of extra troops were sent into the region, but the attacks have continued despite this effort.
BBC has stated that the army sometimes takes hours to even respond to an attack by Islamist militants. This allows the militants to kill; destroy homes, schools, and mosques; and loot before retreating.
On Saturday, 106 people were killed in an attack.
Governor Kashim Shettima called in for reinforcements for these attacks, but said the insurgents were “better armed and better motivated” than the security forces.
Governor Shettima has said that “it is absolutely impossible for us to defeat Boko Haram.”
This statement, however, was denied.
Another stated that Nigeria’s army was one of the best equipped in Africa, going against Shettima’s statement.
“We state authoritatively without any fear or equivocation whatsoever that Nigeria is already winning the war against terror and the activities of the insurgents will be terminated within the shortest possible time,” a spokesman said.
For more information, please visit:
BBC News – Nigeria’s Boko Haram crisis: Bama attack mars victory claims – 19 February 2014
Myjoyonline – Boko Haram attack mars Nigeria’s victory claims – 19 February 2014
Wopular – Attack Mars Nigeria’s Victory Claims – 19 February 2014
DailyPost – Boko Haram: Shettima replies Presidency, says FG insensitive to plight of Borno State – 19 February 2014
Russian Ethnic Minority Leader Arrested Near Sochi After Group Protested Genocide
by Tony Iozzo
Impunity Watch Reporter, Europe
SOCHI, Russia – A leader of Russia’s Circassian ethnic minority was arrested by authorities on Friday in the latest instance of Russia’s crackdown on protestors near the Sochi Games.
Asker Sokht, a moderate Circassian activist who has been considered an ally to the Kremlin, was arrested after dozens of Circassian activists were arrested on February 7th while attempting to protest at the Sochi Olympics. On Friday, Sokht was detained and sentenced to eight days in custody for “hooliganism and disobeying police.”
Last week, Sokht was quoted criticizing the Sochi Olympics for its opening ceremony. The February 7th opening ceremony traced the cultural history of Russia, but did not acknowledge the Circassian ethnic minority group.
“It is clear that behind the alleged hooliganism or disobeying charge against him are his critical statements about the Olympics in Sochi,” a Circassian activist group stated in a letter addressed to the regional governor demanding Sokht’s release.
Thousands of Circassians were displaced out of the Sochi Region by the Tsarist army when it invaded the Persian-controlled North Caucasus region. This event led to a fifty year war which killed thousands more Circassians.
Circassian activists have expressly opposed the Winter Olympics being held in Russia, as the Circassians claim that Sochi is the site their people’s expulsion from Russia. In 2007, an anti-Olympics campaign called No Sochi 2014 was created with the aim to “strip Russia of the Sochi Olympics based on it being the location of the Circassian Genocide.” Circassians view the Sochi Games as particularly offensive because they fall on the 150th anniversary of the alleged genocide.
Circassian activists have attempted to convince the Kremlin to acknowledge the Circassian persecution. “This is deeply sad for Circassians. Even those who weren’t strongly associated with the nationalist movement and were fairly assimilated in Russia interpret this as an insult to the Circassian people,” stated Adam Bogus, the leader of a Circassian council in the town of Maykop, which is roughly 150 miles from Sochi.
Russia has enforced a large-scale ethnic crackdown in the North Caucasus region, where Islamic insurgency has caused conflicts for years. Citizens in this region allege invasive security measures and racial profiling both ahead of, and during the Sochi games.
For more information, please see:
Al Jazeera – Russia Detains Circassian Leader Protesting Sochi Olympics – 17 February 2014
CNN – Russia Arrests Leader of Circassian Ethnic Minority – 17 February 2014
International Business Times – Circassians Protest Winter Olympics Being Held at Sochi Genocide Site – 17 February 2014
Radio Free Europe, Radio Liberty – Circassian Leader Reportedly Detained Near Sochi – 17 February 2014